Sharing life with a canine companion is truly a rewarding experience. However, those who have ever owned a dog know that caring for a dog properly can be very expensive.

There are some good ways to take good care of your dog and save money at the same time.

Adopt a Dog From A Shelter

If you are thinking about adding a canine companion to your home, you can save money by adopting a dog from the local animal shelter instead of purchasing a dog from a breeder or pet shop. Registered dogs can cost several hundred to several thousand dollars. Dogs from the shelter cost substantially less, and at many shelters, the dogs will have their first vaccinations and be spayed or neutered.

Low Cost Spay/Neuter

Spaying or neutering your dog can be expensive. In many communities, there are organizations that offer low-cost spay and neuter services. These low-cost services will often save dog owners 50 to 100 dollars.

Pet Insurance

Veterinary care is expensive for the simplest of procedures. In the unfortunate event that your dog needs specialized care, surgery or a long course of medication, the bills will mount up fast. The bill for a short visit to an emergency clinic can top 500 dollars in short order.

To help offset these potentially staggering veterinary bills, consider purchasing pet insurance. For a low monthly premium, your dog will have coverage for a wide-variety of major and routine veterinary services. Although you will be paying money up front, in the long run, the savings could be extraordinary.

Shop Around For Pet Supplies

All dog owners need a variety of different pet supplies including food, dishes, toys and other dog related paraphernalia. Often, the prices at pet specialty stores are very inflated. If you shop around on the Internet, and at stores that sell items in bulk, you will often find some very good deals.

Most bulk stores have a good range of dog related items available including wood dog crate furniture, rawhide bones, toys and many types of dog food including premium varieties.

Do Your Own Grooming

It is very convenient to take your dog to a groomer and let someone else clip and bathe your dog. In most cases, this is an unnecessary expense. With a little effort, most dog owners can bathe their own dogs quite well. Unless you have a breed that requires some elaborate grooming that requires special equipment, the basics can be done at home.

These are just a few of the ways that dog owners can save some money. However you decide to save, never save money at the expense of your dog’s health.